sharpened

"as iron sharpens iron so one man sharpens another" proverbs 27:17

I would say that I have been sharpened this week. There are people  who live their lives in such a way that it gives testimony to who God is and the importance of the gospel of Christ. There are people who will communicate misunderstandings in order to make our friendship richer. There are people who invite you into their presence and allow you to see who they are. genuine. lovely.

It is easy to search for favor with these people....to attempt to earn their forgiveness when I have wronged them, or to believe that I have to impress with them with humor or wisdom. 

No, these people challenge me to walk confidently in who Christ is...it's never been about me. I am thankful for these people. The ones I live with especially. Because they have given me a more profound understanding of God's grace...and how freely He offers it to us. 

sharing

"Friendship is acting out God's love for people in tangible ways. We were made to represent the love of God in each other's lives. so that each person we walk through life with has a more profound sense of God's love for them. Friendship is an opportunity to act on God's behalf in the lives of of the people that we're close to, reminding each other who God is"

-Cold Tangerines

The quote is from a lovely book by Shauna Niequist. I was introduced to Cold Tangerines by a dear friend this summer and I love the stories about life and love and failure and redemption that fill its pages. The purpose of the book is to celebrate the extraordinary nature of everyday life. 

To me, life is about long talks on the living room floor, pot luck meals, tears, and shouts of joy. It's about laughter and and going deep with people and letting them see that you're not perfect. 

It's doing life together. 

It's walking alongside one another...extending grace to those around you and speaking truth into their lives. 

life is to be shared. make others aware of God....and who He is....and how He loves. 

stop.

I love those moments when you want to laugh out loud and freeze time and shout from the rooftops that it's good. 

Moments when you stop and see things for how they are. When you not only understand your current position in the world, but your purpose. Currently...I am a college student. That's where I am for the next two years. I have two more falls and two more springs in this town. At times, I am sick of it all...the structure....viewing the daily as mundane. Asking God...why can't I go now...I'm ready. Then,  I see it. I see a sun ray shining through the tree's or dimple in a child's cheek. I hear a story of redemption and hearts reconciled. I get it. It's good.

I have been given this day. And this day is a part of my next two years in this stage of life. And this day is unique. There is adventure and beauty in this day. There are new faces and new stories in this day. 

There is courage and forgiveness and hope.  

It may look like other days...but it's not....it's today. and it's a gift. 

a writer is someone who writes even when it's bad

You've been warned. 

I have wanted to start a blog for a long time...But, the fear of being unoriginal and cliche always stopped me. Every once in a while I have the idea that I could do it...that I could write. Sometimes while folding laundry or stuffing things away in my closet...it all becomes a dance. I think...I should share this. I should write. But, then my creative thoughts get trampled on by doubt, insecurity, fear. There's no room for those things in writing. May the doubts never get in the way of the genuine. 

So. Here I am. 

"Be careful not to turn others' lives into the mold for our own. Allow God to be as creative with you as He is with each of us" -Crazy Love